Saturday, November 17, 2007

Carole King Is a Natural Woman in Idaho

SELLER: Carole KingLOCATION: Stanley, IdahoPRICE: $19,000,000SIZE: 128 acresDESCRIPTION: ...This ranch features absolute solitude, spectacular mountain views and extensive live water running through and adjacent to it. Significant geothermal resources provide water for two natural "hot pools" and heated building including the main lodge. The ranch compound consists of a beautifully restored 7,337 sq. ft. log lodge, owner's residence on the creek, caretakers home, professional recording studio, several guest cabins and equestrian facilities. Accessible by road year-round, this ranch is only 1.25 hours north of Sun Valley, Idaho, and lies within the most spectacular mountain country in the West.

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Thanks the efforts of Belinda Beaverman, who kindly sent us a link to a brief blurb in Architectural Digest, Your Mama has learned that Grammy winning singer/songwriter and Earth Momma activist extraordinaire Carole King has put her scenic and spectacular 128-acre Idaho spread on the market for a not very folksy price tag of $19,000,000.

The last time Your Mama and the Dr. Cooter saw the gorgeously frizzy haired Miz King was at the US Open where she sang and pounded the pie-ana while Anna Wintour bobbed her perfectly bobbed bob to the music and The Donald and Melania squinted down from their private box stuffed full of khaki-panted sycophants. But that's a different story for a different day.

Anyhoo, according to an interview with PBS in early 2007, Miz King has lived in the beautiful boondocks of the Idaho outback for 30 years and she works tirelessly to protect and preserve the rugged and open spaces of the wild, wild west from all the moe-rons on dirt bikes and ATVs who think nothing of shredding the pristine wilderness in the interest of good motorized fun.

Miz King may call the Idaho wilderness home, but her big ranch outside of Stanley, Idaho, is nothing less than a dee-luxe and amenity laden oasis of civilized living plunked down into the harsh heart of the craggy mountains of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, which the property listing proclaims lies within the boundaries of the 756,000 acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

The uber-rural compound is dotted with several impeccably maintained buildings including a sprawling 7,337 square foot log lodge with 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a separate recording studio with a guest apartment, as well as Miz King's personal 2 bedroom residence that overlooks Warm Springs Creek. Additionally there is a caretaker's house and eight charming and historic log cabins, including one that sits up on the scrubby hillside and offers magnificent views of the surrounding lands and a sort of solitude and isolation that would scare the bejeezis right out of many city dwellers, Your Mama included.

The interiors of the buildings appear to be all done up in a kind of log cabin chic, which isn't exactly the sort of decor Your Mama wants to call home, but we do think Miz King and her team of nice gay decorators have managed to successfully merge the rustic and the luxurious in an appropriate manner that is casual, comfortable and suitable for a ridiculously rich country bumpkin to feel cosseted and secure.

As far as Your Mama is concerned the choicest feature of this property are without doubt the two natural "hot pools" where Miz King and her guests can skinny dip in the winter time. Good times, children, good times.

Miz King's extremely expensive Western wonderland is certainly not suitable for the average Idahoan who could never afford the blistering $19,000,000 price tag. Your Mama imagines this property might appeal to a deep pocketed city sophisticate who has a deep desire to get in touch with his or her inner Grizzly Adams but wants to bring a butler and a personal chef along to smooth out the rough edges of the wilderness adventure. Or perhaps another very successful musician who thrives in isolation when making beautiful music will drop a huge wad to be able to carry on Miz King's hinterland legacy.

In the spirit of doom and gloom, the latest news from geological gossip columns is that the Yellowstone caldera is rising. Not to worry though, it will probably fall in its natural rhythm cycle instead of blowing. Who's worried? I'd rather be sitting right on top of that baby , than trying to survive the aftermath. Besides everywhere else the sky is falling.

Having spent some time in Stanley, if a normal winter occurs it is practically unreachable. And the town of Stanley has only the most basic of services, not exactly what someone with 19 million dollars to spend envisions.

I do understand your point, but being out in this wilderness IS the beauty it! There is always the option to not be there, depending on forecast. Preparing for immobility goes with the territory ~ guests, groceries, power back-up, books, etc. - and lots of wonderful, fragrent firewood.

I am seeing all of these recent listings, HUGE PRICE REDUCTION, what horseshit, they need to put their properties listed at 10% above 2000 listing price, that is where they should be at if they want to sell right away !!!!!!

good lord, it's one giant wood tone with a spate of unabomber cabins out back. i know she sometimes feels like a natural woman, but ... nature, schmature, give that decorator some ralph lauren at "the point".

Just listened to Carole King's interview with pbs, as she indicates she is fighting to preserve the wilderness surrounding her abode. Now I must wonder, was it to protect the environment? Or her investment? Why sell? Donate the property to the US Parks Dept. or place the property in a trust to be used for educational purposes. Perhaps a camp for inner city youth to see the earth in a way they have never seen it before. She certainly has enough money!

I recently moved to Idaho and the next door neighbor invited me and the wife to his rustic cabin near Stanley. He informed us that we had to take "the long way around" because Ms. King's estate was nearby and, through legal action, she'd had the road shut-off that went to his cabin. My neighbor and several home owner's in the area are not exactly pleased with Ms. King.... hmmmm... Ms King definitely has a nice place, though

The reason she is selling is because she is trying to past H.R. 980 if it passes her property will be on the wilderness so it would have to be tore down! Miz King is out of touch with the people of the west she needs to move to New York!